Agricultural Extension Development Research Articles

ROLE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES IN AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION; COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PRESENT AND FUTURE ASPECTS IN DISTRICT KHANEWAL

Agricultural extension is the main driving force in technology transfer from researcher to the end users. But it is facing tremendous challenges due to lack of government interest and financial resources. The prominent issue of agricultural extension is to cover huge number of small farmers in scattered form. Information and Communication Technologies can play a vital role to resolve this issue. The present study was conducted in Tehsil Khanewal to evaluate the type of ICTs used by farmers and their contribution for the development of agricultural extension in future. Data were collected with the help of well-structured interview schedule from 234 farmers and collected data were statistically analyzed with the help of computer software Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Higher variation was recorded which was ranging from (2.9%) to (66.6%) in case of ICTs as a source of agricultural information. The most prominent ICTs device used as a source of agricultural information was TV with exactly two third (66.6%) of the total respondents followed by mobile phone with slightly less than TV (63.6%). Use of Agri. websites and mobile Apps for agriculture consultancy were below bottom line with 4.7% and 2.9%, respectively. Mobile phone was on top ranking with weighted score=959 and mean value=4.12, as an effective tool for getting agricultural information in future. Agri. helpline was on the second number with weighted score=875 and mean value=3.74. It was suggested from our study that there is a need to create awareness among the farmers about the use of ICTs. Farmers must be educated by the extension staff about the use of internet and agriculture mobile apps for fetching the information and finding the solution of the problems which they face in fields.

Effectiveness of the lead farmer approach in agricultural extension service provision: Nationally representative panel data analysis in Malawi

The lead farmer (LF) approach has been implemented and heavily promoted nationwide in Malawi since 2009 to support government extension workers and accelerate technology dissemination. Earlier reports have shown that donor-funded projects in Malawi widely adopted the LF approach, indicating positive roles and contributions of LFs. However, national data show persistently low rates of adoption of management practices being promoted by the LFs, prompting this study to look closely at the nationwide implementation and effectiveness of the LF approach. Specifically, we model the effects of farmers’ interaction with and exposure to LFs, and farmers’ access to LFs’ advice, on farmers’ awareness and adoption of several promoted technologies and management practices. We use data from 531 randomly selected LFs linked to panel data from 2,880 farming households and, using correlated random effects, model the effectiveness of the LF approach on technology awareness and adoption. This modeling is complemented by 52 focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with agricultural extension development officers (AEDOs) and service providers.Our results point to two major conclusions. First, LFs support and assist AEDOs in their work, especially in organizing community meetings and farm demonstrations, and are also an important bridge between farmers and AEDOs. But LFs complement AEDOs’ work rather than substitute for it. In communities without strong AEDOs and community leaders to work with and monitor them, LFs were not active or performed at a substandard level. Second, results show limited coverage and weak implementation and effectiveness of the LF approach at the national level. Only 13 percent of farmers reported receiving agricultural advice from an LF in the last two years, and only 20 percent reported having interacted with an LF. Our econometric models also consistently show neither the farmers’ exposure or interaction with LFs nor farmers’ access to LFs’ advice had an effect on awareness and adoption of the major agricultural management practices being promoted. When heterogeneity and types of LFs are unpacked, results show that quality of LFs, adoption behavior of LFs, and regular training of LFs have strong and consistent effect on the awareness and adoption of most agricultural practices promoted.

Application of Exponential Comparison Method and Simple Additive Weighting Method in Assessment of Agricultural Extension Performance

In order to build qualified and reliable agricultural human resources, it is necessary for professional, creative, innovative and global oriented Agricultural Extension workers in the provision of productive, effective and efficient extension services. Agricultural Extension is directed to carry out advisory and consultation tasks for the main actors and business actors in developing their agribusiness business, so the adoption of appropriate technology can run well and in turn increase the empowerment of the main actors, productions, productivity, income and welfare of farmers and their families. The performance of agricultural extension workers can be seen in the aspects of preparation, implementation, evaluation and reporting, development of agricultural extension and agricultural extension profession profession. In addition, agricultural extension programs should be based on analysis of farmers' needs and reflect current target audience conditions. Applying Simple Additive Wighted and Exponential Comparison Method in appraisal of farmer extension performance at UPT BPP Sukaraja aims to know the performance of agricultural extension in conducting counseling at UPT BPP Sukaraja. This is due to the lack of extension workers in BP3K Sukaraja. The results of the resulting assessment in the form of work performance ranking of each extension worker. Based on the results of the calculation both methods show the same performance rankings. With this is expected to make it easy for UPT BPP sukaraja in carrying out routine performance appraisal performance of extension workers who had been a constraint in conducting appraisal performance extension. Agricultural extension workers can carry out their duties and responsibilities

Penerapan Metode MPE dalam Penilaian Kinerja Penyuluh Pertanian UPT BPP Sukaraja

In order to build qualified and reliable agricultural human resources, it is necessary for professional, creative, innovative and global oriented Agricultural Extension workers in the provision of productive, effective and efficient extension services. Agricultural Extension is directed to carry out advisory and consultation tasks for the main actors and business actors in developing their agribusiness business, so the adoption of appropriate technology can run well and in turn increase the empowerment of the main actors, productions, productivity, income and welfare of farmers and their families. The performance of agricultural extension workers can be seen in the aspects of preparation, implementation, evaluation and reporting, development of agricultural extension and agricultural extension profession profession. In addition, agricultural extension programs should be based on analysis of farmers' needs and reflect current target audience conditions. Exponential Comparison Method in appraisal of farmer extension performance at UPT BPP Sukaraja aims to know the performance of agricultural extension in conducting counseling at UPT BPP Sukaraja. This is due to the lack of extension workers in BP3K Sukaraja. The results of the resulting assessment in the form of work performance ranking of each extension worker. Based on the result of the calculation methods show performance rankings. With this is expected to make it easy for UPT BPP sukaraja in carrying out routine performance appraisal performance of extension workers who had been a constraint in conducting appraisal performance extension. Agricultural extension workers can carry out their duties and responsibilities
 Keywords— Appraisal of Agricultural Extensionist, MPE, UPT BPP Sukaraja

Reformating agricultural extension institution: Finding from the study of functional interactions among related components to agricultural extension in West Sumatra

Such literatures on the development of agricultural extension in Indonesia at present provides information that there are at least four issues of extension problems. Those four issues are mainly related to the quality and the sustainability of that extension services. Until the year of 2009, the institutional form of extension services at the provincial and at the district level in Indonesia was still diverse and was in the transition period from the old regulation to the new Law of Extension Services in 2006. Focus of this paper is to: (1) disclose the problem of agricultural extension in West Sumatra as the case site, particularly about the inter-functional aspects of inter-related components of extension services, and (2) to propose a reformatory idea about the institutional form of agricultural extension at the sub-district level which expected to be ensuring the sustainability of agricultural extension.

STRATEGI PENGEMBANGAN INFORMASI PENYULUHAN PERTANIAN MELALUI PROGRAM SIMLUHTAN DI KABUPATEN SLEMAN

This study aims to analyse internal and external factors into strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats and formulate an alternative strategy development of Agricultural extension information through Simluhtan Program in Sleman District. The research method is qualitative method with deep description strategy. The research location was UPT BP3K (Agricultural Extension Offices at Sub-District Level) in Sleman. Location determination was selected purposively, and data collection is done by deep interview, literature, and documentation. The results show the strength of the Simluhtan program is its online presence, availability of fast and accurate related facilities and administrator, while the weakness is the remote BP3K location, lack of administrator and officers on duty, lack of data update as well as coordination. Opportunities that can be utilized for the sustainability of the program is the accessible data online, the existence of government policy in institutional development of Agricultural Extension towards Sleman Smart City, easier and more efficient information technology, the need for data accuracy, while the threats are the existence of hackers, lack of coordination in the shift of the system from the central government, as well as decrease in numbers of extension officers as the main actors. Strategies that can be proposed is related to human resources development in terms of information technology, extension institutional development and the extension officers’ ability in implementing the programs, and development of support facilities connected to the Internet. Keywords: Agricultural Extension, SWOT Analysis, Simluhtan

IMPLEMENTASI FUZZY SIMPLE ADDITIVE WEIGHTING DALAM PENILAIAN KINERJA PENYULUH PERTANIAN

In order to build qualified and reliable agricultural human resources, it is necessary for professional, creative, innovative and global-oriented Agricultural Extension workers in the provision of productive, effective and efficient counseling. Agricultural Extension is directed to carry out advisory and consultation tasks for the main actors and business actors in developing their agribusiness business, so the adoption of appropriate technology can run well and in turn increase the empowerment of the main actors, productions, productivity, income and welfare of farmers and their families. The performance of agricultural extension workers can be seen in aspects of preparation, implementation, evaluation and reporting, development of agricultural extension and agricultural extension professional development. In addition, agricultural extension programs should be based on analysis of farmers' needs and reflect current conditions. Applying Fuzzy Simple Additive Wighted in appraisal of farmer extension performance in BP3K aims to know the performance of agricultural extension in consultation at UPT BPP Sukaraja. This is due to the lack of extension workers in BP3K Sukaraja. The results of the resulting assessment in the form of work performance ranking of each extension worker. Decision Support System is built to facilitate BP3K in performing accurate assessment of extension worker performance in accordance with the program and work plan that has been made and carried out by agricultural extension either in the preparation stage, implementation, evaluation and self development propofesional. Â Keywords : Decision Support System, FSAW, Agricultural performance

English

The combination of agricultural extension system with small scale irrigation development helps to reduce poverty, and now utmost attention is given to it. Extension system development can increases the production and income of the households and helps to improve their overall economic welfare. This study was conducted to assess the strengths and constraints of the public extension system and to provide suggestions on “best fit” solutions and their scale-up opportunities in the small scale irrigation user; furthermore it examines the impact of agricultural extension system on small-scale irrigation on total income, and the probability of being poor or not at household level. Survey was carried out involving 900 extension users’ households and 875 non-extension users in Afar, Oromia and Somali regional states of Ethiopia which was a total of 1775 households. The result of the study by taking indicators of family size extension service users had more families 6.3 to 5.6 in non-user. The total crop income for one season was 41,282 Ethiopian birr while it was 16,276 for non-users. At the time of the data collection the exchange rate for a dollar was 19.67 Ethiopian Birr. Using a Tobit model to determine the total income parameters of education, extension service access, total land holding had a significant level of increment, while with marginal analysis (dy/dx) factors like household leaders’ age, access to credit and dependency ratios were negatively related with total income. In general, the average annual income of extension users with application of small scale irrigation households was significantly greater than non-extension users. This shows that extension users in small-scale irrigation significantly promote total income of a household. The poverty incidence in non-extension user households is by far greater than user households. Thus, for the agrarian country, Ethiopia, extension system development in small-scale irrigation districts has significant impact on poverty reduction, so agricultural extension development should be given emphasis in development planning. Key words: Income, poverty, small-scale irrigation, extension service, Logit, Tobit, marginal effect.

Kinerja Penyuluh Pertanian dan Dampaknya pada Kompetensi Petani Kakao di Empat Wilayah Sulawesi Selatan

<p>The agricultural extension worker’s performance is the work outputs achieved by agricultural extension workers in conducting their jobs. The aim of this research is to know the factors which influence to the agricultural extension worker’s performance and the connection between the factors. Also, to know that factors influences the cacao farmers competence. The population of this research is all the agricultural extension workers in four district, South Sulawesi province (447 person). The sample of this research referred to Slovin method from among 106 (one hundred six) agricultural extension workers, 106 (one hundred six) group farmers leaders and 212 (two hundred twelve) cacao farmers . The design of this research was conducted by surveying and interviewing. LISREL program with ‘SEM’ was used in analyzing data. The Result of this research show that the agricultural extension worker’s performance was influenced significantly by characteristic, competence, motivation and self reliance. The total influence of them were 10 percent and 90 percent were represent other influences outside this study. The suggestion was that their performance must be improved by providing special training to improve their capability in agricultural extension planning, monitoring and evaluation, agricultural extension development and technology disemination.</p><p>Key words: Performance, competencies, motivation</p>

Rural Youths’ Involvement in Agricultural Production In Delta Central Agricultural Zone: Challenge To Agricultural Extension Development In Delta State

Youths are a formidable force in the agricultural production process, constituting a sizeable proportion of future progressive farmers and better citizens, especially in the rural areas. While their contribution towards attaining food security cannot be underestimated, their apparent lukewarm attitude towards agriculture is a source of concern and challenge to the development of agricultural extension. This study investigates rural youths’ involvement in agricultural production activities in Delta Central Agricultural Zone of Delta State. Data were collected with the aid of questionnaire from 88 youths in the study area. Data analyses were through the use of percentages, means and correlation coefficient. Findings from the study showed that more than half (64.8%) of the youths were resident in rural areas and are mainly farmers (52.3%) involved mostly in arable crop production (69.3%). A greater percentage of the respondents (69.3%) expressed unfavourable attitude towards agriculture. Attitude correlates positively and significantly with participation in agricultural production activities (r=0.435) and influenced youths interest in agricultural activities. The need to provide social amenities and infrastructures that will make the youths live and work in the rural areas is emphasized. Also there is need to stimulate youths’ interest in agriculture through effective rural youth agricultural extension programmes.

Farmer Field School (FFS) and Junior Farmer Field and Life School (JFFLS) as challenges to agricultural extension development and practice in Nigeria

This paper discusses Farmer Field School (FFS) and Junior Farmer Field and Life School (JFFLS) as challenges to agricultural extension development and practice in Nigeria. FFS and JFFLS are participatory extension approaches which emphasize participation of local people and their communities working in groups and building upon the traditional or indigenous knowledge that they have acquired. Discovery learning is emphasized on FFS and JFFLS approaches whereby participants learn by doing as well as discovering new ideas by themselves. The paper suggests the need for promotion of these approaches by national extension policy and donor agencies to ensure sustainability. It notes that these approaches which encourages qualitative rather than often used quantitative researches will reduce unrealistic and crooked formal research data and also challenge other methods of extension delivery for better discovery learning. It concludes that developing an appropriate framework for analysis and evaluation of these approaches will help to more accurately measure their effectiveness and impact on the lives of the participants and the society at large.

MENGEMBANGKAN SISTEM PENYULUHAN PERTANIAN, PERIKANAN, DAN KEHUTANAN DALAM RANGKA IMPLEMENTASI UNDANG-UNDANG NOMOR 16 TAHUN 2006

<em><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The enactment of Law 16/2006 on System of Agricultural Extension, Fisheries and Forestry may be marked as the new era in agricultural extension development of Indonesia. It is realized so far, that there has been no significant progress to that issue since the extension service had been administratively shifted from the central government to regional authority. Lack of local authority commitment on funding the extension services has made agricultural extension activities remained undeveloped during the years. With Law 16/2006, extension services gained sufficient legal-basis to be undertaken and thus financed by regional authority. This article is part of study to see sub-systems of extension, i.e. extension policy, agricultural extension, research and inspection, special education/official duty, and training. These sub-systems build up an integrative extension system that determines the success of agricultural extension mission at large. This writing tries to elaborate how better functional interconnection among those sub-systems could help increase the effectiveness of agricultural extension activities in the field.</span></em>

Challenges of Greed and Corruption in Agricultural Extension Development and Practice in Nigeria

Challenges of Greed and Corruption in Agricultural Extension Development and Practice in Nigeria

ANALYSIS OF SELECTED ISSUES IN SWAZILAND'S AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION:

This paper describes the development of agricultural extension in Swaziland with regards to history; organizational philosophy, mission, goals and objectives, implementation delivery system and evaluation; policy framework; funding; linkages between agricultural extension (AE) and research; the planning of AE activities; staffing; supervision; and other issues. The paper shows that over many decades, agricultural extension has undergone changes that brought, to some extent, improvements in agriculture. However, there are areas that still need greater improvement for effective, efficient and sustainable performance of agricultural extension in Swaziland. Implications for future consideration are suggested. (UNISWA J Agric: 2000 9: 90-95)

Farmers of the World. The Development of Agricultural Extension. Edited and written by Edmund deS. Brunner, Irwin T. Sanders, and Douglas Ensminger, in collaboration with thirteen other writers. New York: Columbia University Press, 1945. 208 pp. $2.50

Farmers of the World. The Development of Agricultural Extension. Edited and written by Edmund deS. Brunner, Irwin T. Sanders, and Douglas Ensminger, in collaboration with thirteen other writers. New York: Columbia University Press, 1945. 208 pp. $2.50

Farmers of the World; The Development of Agricultural Extension

Farmers of the World; The Development of Agricultural Extension

Farmers of the World: The Development of Agricultural Extension

Farmers of the World: The Development of Agricultural Extension

Review: Farmers of the World; The Development of Agricultural Extension, by Edmund deS. Brunner, Irwin T. Sanders, and Douglas Ensminger

Review: <i>Farmers of the World; The Development of Agricultural Extension</i>, by Edmund deS. Brunner, Irwin T. Sanders, and Douglas Ensminger